It’s easy to get sucked into social media. You want to be seen, heard, connect, and network so you can build your brand. But sometimes social media can consume your life and be harmful to your overall mental health and productivity. Constantly scrolling through social media can cause stress, depression, and jealousy toward those around you. But opening up a social media app is far easier than closing it. Especially, if you work in social media or to promote your business or blog. You don’t have to quit social media just cut back on the amount of time you’re spending on social media. So here are some ways to cut back on your social media use.
In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Stop Worrying About Missing Out
When it comes to social media we have no control over what pops up on our feed and when. It’s all up to the provider, which means you have no control over what you don’t see either. There are thousands of things being posted and you have no idea what you’re going to see and not see. Checking often isn’t going to change that because no matter what you’re going to miss out on something.
Set Limits
Set limits for how long you’ll stay on your laptop, phone, or tablet even if you’re doing other things and not using it for social media. While working on these devices it natural to want to take a short break and scroll through social media. Which turns into an even longer break than you originally intended. But if you actually step away from the computer or put the phone down. You won’t get stuck in a cycle of scrolling through social media and the task your working on. So make it a habit to get up and get a drink, go for a short walk, have a snack, or talk to someone. This way you get a break from what you’re working on and you keep from looking at social media as an alternative to task your working on.
Turn off Your Notifications
Don’t let social media updates distract you. It’s something easier said than done because notifications are always popping up and tempting you. A notification pops up and you start with seeing what it is, then you end up scrolling for hours on end. So don’t let notifications distract you, turn them off notifications for the social media apps and websites that aren’t important. Then set aside time to check those apps or websites.
Block Social Media Sites for a Period of Time Daily
If you’re having a hard time staying off social media try using an app or a program that blocks access to social media sites or apps for a few hours or a couple of days. This will give you no choice but to cut back on your social media usage. Decide how much time is reasonable, then set the app or program for that amount of time. And each day or week you make it through, give yourself a little reward. Once you’re comfortable with that amount of reduced time, cut back again. Until you’re comfortable with the amount of time you’re spending on social media.
Make Your Feed a Positive Place
Start off by asking yourself why you’re using your social media platform. Is it to build your brand? Connect with others? Learn something new? Then create a list of goals and decide which accounts you follow fit into those goals. And unfollow, mute, or hide the accounts that don’t. After that focus on removing accounts that give enlist negative feelings. Scroll through your feed and pay attention to the way you react to what you see. If you find yourself annoyed with certain accounts. Consider unfollowing them, muting them, or hiding their notifications. Just make your feed a positive and productive place. This way you won’t get caught up reading posts that don’t push you toward your goals.
Schedule Post
Create a social media calendar and a schedule for each platform. Plan out what you’re going to post each day then use a social media scheduling tool to schedule it. You can schedule everything each week or for the whole entire month. This will help you stay organized and be ready to go with content. Instead of going through each platform trying to figure out what to post each day.
Social Media Scheduling Tools:
To help you plan, I’ve created a free social media planner that you can download and fill in with your goals and plans.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FREE PRINTABLES ON MY SITE ARE FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD. FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS FREEBIE, BUT PLEASE CREDIT ME AND LINK BACK TO THIS PAGE WHEN PLACING MY IMAGES ON YOUR BLOG OR SOCIAL MEDIA. PLEASE DO NOT LINK DIRECTLY TO THE DOWNLOADABLE PDF FILE; INSTEAD LINK BACK TO THE URL OF THIS PAGE. THANKS!
Find an Offline Hobby
Find at least one hobby that doesn’t require a smartphone, computer, or tablet. This way you’ll have something to do besides scroll through social media when you’re bored. It can be a hobby you share with someone else or an individual hobby. Long as it’s something you enjoy, it’ll be easier to not turn to social media to fill your boredom.
Related post: 7 Tips for Effective Time Management
Pin Me!
Thanks for this! I am going to use your planner for sure! This is something I struggle with!
No problem!
I hope it helps out. 😀
Excellent advice. It’s so easy to fall into the habit of being on social media all the time, especially as a blogger, but we really do need to cut back and limit our time on it. I love the idea of blocking social media sites for a certain amount of time each day. That sounds like the perfect way to get time away from them without cutting them out completely. I try to set aside time each day to devote to social media, to get any blog related stuff done with them, and then outside of that touch them as little as possible, but admittedly some days I spend way too much time on them. So this is something I need to work on.
Thank you, I think we all spend a little too much time scrolling through social media from time to time. But being able to recognize and seek a solution is a step in the right direction. 😉
I definitely agree with stopping the notifications it really was game changer. The last idea of having a hobby that doesn’t involve social media is great advice!
Yes, it is. I have all mine turned off, so I stay distraction free. Thank you, having a hobby that doesn’t involve social media is a great tool to combat the overuse of social media. For me, I get lost working in a craft project and forget all about my phone and what’s happening on social media.
As blogging is my job, it’s SO hard for me to stay off social media. But it’s definitely something I need to work on because I’d love to have less screen time in my day. I’m desperate to find an off-screen hobby!
Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
Good luck! Hope you find a fun off-screen hobby.
Angela this post was fantastic! Let me start by saying all the tips were fantastic but that first tip is absolutely my fav!😍 You’re right. It inevitable to keep up with everything on social media, no doubt you will miss something. I think having this mindset truly sets the tone to treating social media. You don’t have to catch EVERYthing, it’s ok to miss something. I feel like this way of thinking takes the pressure off and that’s comforting.
Natonya | https://www.justnatonya.wordpress.com
Thank you, Natonya.
It’s a big part of cutting back on social media. There will be things you miss, and no amount of scrolling will fix that. So, it’s OK to take a break from social media. There will always be things that you miss whether your on it or not.
Thank you for putting this out there. Useless scrolling is something I need to cut back on. I find myself doing it more and more and it takes away from my time to be creative!
Your welcome and thanks for stopping by. Having a purpose on social media definitely helps cut back on the useless scrolling. I try to follow accounts that serve a purpose in helping me achieve my goals. That way my time spent on social media is meaningful.